Bottle carrier



Oct. 15, 1968 c. L. CHAMPLIN BOTTLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1966 9m QFWU M INVENTOR. CHARLES L. CHAMPL/N BY PE/VDLETO/V, NEUMA/V .SE/BOLD 8 WILLIAMS ATTORNEYS c. L. CHAMPLIN Oct. '15, 1968 BOTTLE CARRIER '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

- INVENTOR.

CHARLES L. CHAMPL/N BY PENDLETON, NEUMAN sE/aow mar/4mm United States Patent 3,405,840 BOTTLE CARRIER Charles L. Champlin, Rittman, Ohio, assignor to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanston, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1966, Ser. No. 593,430 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-114) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foldable bottle carrier for accommodating a plurality of bottles arranged side-by-side in two parallel rows. The carrier includes a bottom, side wall, end wall and top panels which cooperate to form a compartment for the rows of bottles. The top panel is formed in two sections, one section of which subtends the other and is secured thereto in overlapped relation. The top panel sections include means for engaging and retaining the upper portions of the accommodated bottles in predetermined relative positions.

Background of the invention The recent trend in distributing and transporting a plurality of loaded carriers of the type in question has been away from the conventional closed corrugated shipping container and toward a corrugated tray because of the substantial cost savings involved. When shipping trays are utilized, the upper portions of the accommodated loaded carriers are exposed and as a result the latter are subjected to a substantially greater amount of shock. By reason of this repeated shock, the carrier material (usually paperboard) disposed between the upper ends of the adjacent accommodated bottles tend to buckle, tear, or 0th erwise become substantially weakened due to wear, with the result that the upper ends of the accommodated bottles will contact or strike one another causing breakage. It is desirable that the carrier top panel have some flex or spring thereto so as to function as a shock absorber; however, it must nevertheless he possessed of sufficient inherent stiffness to prevent bottle to bottle contact. Furthermore, the carrier must be possessed of sufiicient strength to efiectively carry the load even though the carrier is placed in an environment of high humidity.

Summary of the invention Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a carrier which afiords adequate protection for the accommodated bottles notwithstanding that the loaded carrier is subjected to repeated shock.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive carrier which is possessed of a reinforced top panel and is readily capable of being comfortably carried manually notwithstanding that the carrier is exposed to undesirable climatic conditions.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a carrier of paperboard is provided which is adapted to accommodate a plurality of beverage bottles preferably arranged in side by side relation to form two parallel rows. The bottles accommodated by the carrier are normally formed of glass or some other suitable but fragile material and each is provided with a necked open upper end which is initially closed by a clamp or screw type cap. The carrier in question includes a bottom panel upon which the accommodated bottles rest. The bottom panel is provided with a plurality of spacer members which are adapted to be interposed the lower ends of adjacent bottles and prevent direct contact therebetween. Foldably connected to opposite ends of the bottom panel are upright end panels. To the upper edge of one of the end panels is foldably connected a first member and in a like manner a second member is foldably connected to the upper edge of the other end panel. The second member subtends at least half of the first member and is attached thereto so that said members cooperate with one another to form a top panel which is in superposed relation with respect to the bottom panel. The top panel: forming members are provided with a plurality of spaced apertures which are adapted to receive the necked ends of the accommodated bottles and retain same in proper spaced relation.

The bottom panel has a pair of first side panels foldably connected to opposite sides thereof. The first side panels, when in upright positions, are affixed to the end panels. To opposite sides of the top panelforming first member are foldably connected second side panels which depend therefrom and are afiixed to the end panels. The second side panels each have an apertured portion whereby the apertures thereof cooperate with the apertures in said top panel and lockingly encompass the necked portions of said accommodated bottles.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the blank for one embodiment of the improved carrier;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 shown in a partially folded condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 shown folded to form a collapsed tubular member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved carrier shown in erected position for loading;

FIG. 5 is like FIG. 4 but showing bottles in position for loading sidewise into the erected carrier;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the loaded improved carrier in condition for manual carrying; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of a modified form of one of the top panel-forming members which is adapted to subtend the other top panel-forming member when the blank is set up.

Description Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a blank 10 formed preferably from a sheet of paperboard is shown which is adapted, when partially folded, to form a collapsed tubular member T, FIG. 3 or, when fully folded or set up, is adapted to form a carrier C for conveniently carrying a plurality of bottles B or the like. The blank, when folded to form the collapsed tubular member T, may be arranged in stacked relation with other like members for bulk storage, or shipment.

The blank 10 is provided with a plurality of foldlines, shown in dotted lines, which cooperate to define a rectangular bottom panel 11, a pair of end panels 12 and 13 disposed at opposite ends of panel 11, a narrow rectangular first top panel or section 14 connected to panel 12, and a second top panel or section 15 connected to end panel 13.

Foldably connected to opposite sides of bottom panel 11 is a pair of lower side walls 16 and 17. Foldably connected in a similar manner to opposite sides of the end panels and 13 are side fia-ps 18-20 and 21-22, re

' op panel 14 has foldably connected to oppozreof upper side Walls 23 and 24. Each upper side wall includes an inner section 23a or 24a and an outer section 23b or 24b which are interconnected by a foldline 25.

Bottom panel 11 is provided with a plurality of pairs of tabs 26 which are adapted to be struck out or folded upwardly as shown in 4 and 5, and be interposed 3 the lower ends of the accommodated bottles B and prevent contact therebetween.

First top panel 14 is provided with a pair of spaced fingerholes 27 which are centrally disposed. Formed along each foldline 28 between panel 14 and inner section 23a or 24a is a row of apertures 3%}. Each aperture 30 has one portion 30a thereof disposed within panel 1 and a contiguous portion 30b disposed within section 23a or 24a. The configuration and location of apertures 30 are well known in this art and are adapted to accommodate and encompass the upper necked portions B, of the bottles B when they are disposed within the carrier C. The size of aperture portion 30a is smaller than portion 30b and is such that a bottle cap B will not pass therethrough. By reason of this fact, therefore, it is necessary, when the carrier C is being loaded, for the upper side walls 23 and 24 to be folded upwardly relative to panel 14, see FIGS. 4 and 5, so that a row of three bottles each can be moved as a unit through the open side of the tubular member T when it is in erected position. This method and procedure for loading is also well known in the art.

After the rows of bottles have been properly positioned within the erected tubular member T so that a pair of upright tabs 26 are between the lower end portions of adjacent bottles and the necked portions B of the bottles are disposed within aperture portions 39a, the upper side walls 23 and 24 may be folded downwardly whereby aperture portions 30b will permit segments of the bottle caps B to pass therethrough, see FIG. 6. The inner sections 23a and 24a of the upper side walls 23 and 24 extend divergently downwardly and conform substantially to the tapered upper portions of the bottles.

Prior to upper side walls 23 and 24 being folded downwardly, side flaps 18-26 and 21-22 are folded inwardly so as to overlie a part of the exposed surfaces of end bottles of the rows. Subsequent to the folding of the side flaps 18-20 and 21-22, the lower side walls 16 and 17 are folded upwardly either before, simultaneously with, or after the downward folding of upper side walls 23 and 24. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the end portions of the side walls 16, 17, 23 and 24 overlap portions of the folded side flaps 21 and 22. To retain same in overlapping positions, a suitable adhesive may be utilized.

As aforenoted, carriers C of this general type are frequently subject to tearing, rupture, or excessive wear particularly in the top panel thereof. The instant invention therefore is directed to overcoming this difiiculty. The excessive wear or rupture of the top panel usually occurs primarily in two places, (a) in the area between the fingerholes, and (b) in the area circumjacent the apertures for the bottle necked portions. To overcome the above problems, the instant carrier C utilizes the second top panel which is adapted to subtend a substantial portion of first top panel 14.

In the form of panel 15 shown in FIG. 1, a single fingerhole 31 is provided which is adapted to register with the fingerhole 27 formed in panel 14 and disposed adjacent the free edge thereof (the left hand hole 27 shown in FIG. 1). The outer or distal edge 32 of panel 15 is adapted to be substantially tangentially disposed with respect to the other hand hole 27, when panel 15 subtends panel 14.

The opposing side edges 33 and 34 of panel 15 are provided with open end apertures 35, which conform substantially to the configuration of aperture portions a of panel 14. In order to retain panel 15 in proper overlapped relation with respect to panel 14, a strip of adhesive 36 (see FIG. 2) may be applied to the surface of panel 15 which will engage the underside of panel 14. It is desirable that the adhesive strip 36 extend transversely across the full width of panel 15 and be disposed between fingerhole 31 and edge 32.

FIG. 7 discloses a modified form of a second top panel 15 which is connected by a foldline 37 to the upper end of end panel 13. Panel 15' difiers primarily from panel 15 in length. Panel 15 has two spaced fingerholes 31' which are adapted to register with fingerholes 27 when the blank is set up. Because of the increased length panel 15' has a greater number of open end apertures 35' along each side edge thereof. The number of open end apertures 35' correspond to the number of aperture portions 30a formed in panel 14. As in the case of panel 15, panel 15 may be provided with a transversely extending strip of adhesive 36'. If desired the strip of adhesive 36 or 36 maybe located in positions other than shown. Furthermore, additional adhesive strips may be utilized; however, it is preferred that there be a slight amount of play between the panels 14 and 15 when the carton is set up. By reason ,of such play, the panels act more effectively as shock-absorbers and thereby reduce substantially the force of shock applied to the carrier being transmitted to the bottles. The panels 15 and 15' provide double ply material in the area of the carrier where greatest wear or rupture is to occur and thereby minimizes same. The double ply thickness between the fingerholes provides greater comfort when carrying aloaded carrier.

Thus, it will be seen that a carrier is provided which is provided with reinforcement in the areas of normal weakness and thereby permits paperboard stock of thinner, less expensive grade to be utilized without impairing the structural stability of the carrier. The carrier blank is of simple configuration and is readily capable of being set up by automatic equipment.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1 claim:

1. A carrier for accommodating a plurality of bottles arranged in aligned side-by-side relation, each bottle having a necked upper end, said carrier comprising a bottom panel for contacting and 'subtending the lower ends of the accommodated bottles, spacer means carried by said bottom panel for disposition intermediate adjacent bottles, upright end panels foldably connected to opposite ends of said bottom panel and including flaps foldably connected to peripheral portions of said end panels, a sectional top panel disposed in registered relation with respect to said bottom panel, one of said top panel sections being exposed and foldably connected to the upper edge of one end panel and a second of said top panel sections subtending and being overlapped by said one section, said second section being foldably connected to the upper edge of the other end panel, lower side walls disposed intermediate said end panels and foldably connected to and extending upright from opposite sides of said bottom panel and being affixed to said foldable flaps, and upper side walls disposed intermediate said end panels and foldably connected to and depending from opposite sides of said one top panel section and being afiixed to said foldable flaps; said top panel sections being provided with aligned apertures for engaging the necked upper ends of the accommodated bottles and retaining same in predetermined spaced relation whereby said sections remain in overlapping relation.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the apertures formed in said one top panel section each has a segment thereof disposed within the corresponding upper side wall, said aperture segment being of greater size than the portion of said aperture disposed within said one top panel section.

3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said one top panel section apertures are arranged in two parallel rows and and a pair of fingerholes are formed therein and disposed intermediate the rows of apertures.

4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said one top panel section spans the distance between said end panels and said second top panel section spans at least one-half of the said distance.

5. The carrier of claim 4 wherein a portion of said second top panel section is afiixed to said one top panel section.

6. A blank for a bottle carrier comprising a bottom panel, end panels foldably connected to opposite ends of said bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the side of one end panel opposite the side connected to said bottom panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the corresponding side of the other end panel opposite said bottom panel, said second top panel being adapted to subtend said first top panel when said blank is set up, lower side walls foldably connected to opposite sides of said bottom panel and disposed between said end panels, upper side walls foldably connected to opposite sides of one of said top panels, the axes of fold of said upper side walls being substantially transverse to the foldline connections between said top panels and said end panels, and pairs :of flaps foldably connected to each of said end panels intermediate said bottomqtand top panels for engagement with said upper and lower side walls when said blank is set up; said first top panel being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures for engaging the upper ends of accommodated bottles, each aperture having an enlarged portion thereof disposed within the adjacent upper side wall, said second top panel being provided with a plurality of peripheral apertures which are adapted to register with said first top panel apertures when said blank is set up.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,899,123 8/ 1959 Currie 229 3,090,520 5/ 1963 Wuerthner 2201 12 3,119,546 1/ 1964 Wuerthner 22940 3,176,902 4/ 1965 Champlin 22940 3,186,545 6/1965 Conrades 206 3,217,924 11/ 1965 Chidsey 220112 3,253,706 5/1966 Spillson 20665 20 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

